.:.Book Bodega.:. discussion

Leave your thoughts about Beautiful Ruins as you are reading. Just make sure to say which chapter you're on so that there are no spoilers.

Having trouble getting started, although tons of people have recommended this book highly. I'm not sure what it is. Going to give it a try again this weekend. It may just be my general state of mind...hmmmm.

Chapter 4. It seems that even though this story goes on about nothing significant I'm mesmerized and the going is slow. I get stuck on phrases like "the moment that lasts forever" and "the hotel adequate view" they play over and over in my mind and distract me from reading on. As I sit writing this post part of my mind is toying with the idea of taking tomorrow as a sick day partly because i have a sinus infection but mostly so I can stay in bed and read. Neither my work ethic or my boss would be thrilled with this but i really want to! It's almost like the Dinner, I don't want to read it, but I do. (Though not for the same reasons.)

Okay folks - we all seem to be reading books other than our November books!!! Lol. I just finished Brutal Youth (overall well done) and am finally back to Beautiful Ruins! Only in chapter 2 but love the line where Claire sees herself as a spinster with cats named after new wave movie directors. I know people like that! Okay. Gonna try & finish by December! (I have the whole day free today.)

I blew through Beautiful Ruins yesterday because I had a sluggish day off. I really liked it! I agree with Kai -- there were some phrases that really got stuck in my head and caused me to mull them over and over. It took me a few chapters to get into it, but, as it went on, I enjoyed the gradual exposition of various plot points and the character development, and the strategy of going back and forth from past to present. Anyone else reading it?

Chapter 17. I am engrossed. this book has become part of me. I run the gamut of emotions you would expect from am excellent book.

"All we have is the story we tell. everything we do, every decision we make, our strength, weakness, motivation, history, and character-what we believe-none of it is real; it's all part of the story we tell, but here's the thing: it's our goddamned story!" Alvis Bender

Finished. I agree with Mia, the character development was excellent. the story so good that I didn't mind that it wasn't the love story I expected. I almost hate to admit that it was even better because almost everything ended up being right.